Just working to offer the best

Today, like many others, I had someone come into the clinic, without the pet, who shared with me the symptoms of their pet and gave me their diagnosis and asked me for a antibiotic for their pet.  Politely, I explained that I could not prescribe medication without the benefit of having examined the patient, and all the reasons why I can't.  The person was irritated with me and left unsatisfied.  There may be a veterinarian that would accommodate them, but I am not one of them...I strive to always do what is best for my patient. Additionally, there is a regulation set out by the AVMA that makes prescribing without benefit of a Veterinarian-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) unethical and illegal.  Let me explain.....

A Veterinarian-Client –Patient relationship exists when your veterinarian knows your pet well enough to diagnose and treat any medical condition your animals develops.  Your role in this VCPR is allowing your vet to take responsibility for making medical judgements about your pet’s health, asking questions to be sure you understand and follow your vet’s instructions.  Your vet’s job is making judgements about your pet’s health, diagnosis and treatment plans., accepting the responsibility for providing these medical decisions, advising you about your options and risks, keeping written records for your pet’s care and helping you know how to get emergency care if needed. 

This relationship is established ONLY when your vet examines your animal IN PERSON and is maintained by regular vet visits needed to monitor your animal’s health.  If a VCPR is established but you do not visit your vet regularly for them to maintain a good knowledge of your pet’s health, the VCPR is NO LONGER VALID and it would be illegal and unethical for your vet to dispense or prescribe medications or recommend treatment without examining your pet.  A valid VCPR cannot be established online, by e-mail or over the phone.

This VCPR is required by law in many states in order for a veterinarian to diagnose or treat an animal.  A veterinarian that prescribes/treats an animal without having the benefit of examining the animal is breaking the law and can loose their licesence to practice medicine.  Additionally , it is the best thing for your animal’s health, it allows your doctor to make the best possible decision about the health and welfare of your animal; which is what both you and your veterinarian should strive to provide.  Nothing could be worse than having a doctor prescribe a medication ,based on only information you gave them, that may be harmful to your animal.  Additionally, the veterinarian could not be certain of your pet’s true condition without an exam, and any treatment they prescribed would not help (could hurt) and you would still have a sick if not more sick or dead animal.

To the person that left unhappy with my work, I hope this helps ease your frustrations with your veterinarian and their staff, when you hope to receive treatment or medications for your pet without having the expensive of an office visit or diagnostics to probably treat your beloved family member.  Speaking for my office, we want only what is best for your pet, and your pet cannot get the best over the phone or without an examination.  

I wonder if a human doctor has as much difficulty with this, or if a parent of a human child would even expect an MD to treat their child without them having examined them.